According to the organizers, the Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance began as a way to showcase the elegance of the automobile in motion, giving spectators a chance to see some of the magnificent automobiles entered into the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance how they were meant to be: being driven.

The driving tour incorporates some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere, winding along the edge of the Pacific Ocean, through miles of pine and cypress forest and alongside dramatic cliffs.

The traditional tour traces portions of the original 17-Mile Drive, traverses nearby mountains and valleys and pauses for a time in Carmel-by-the-Sea where tour participants stop for lunch.

The tour is open to all entrants in the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, and an owner choosing to participate in it could play a role in winning a trophy on Sunday. If two vehicles tie in class competition at the concours, the vehicle that has successfully completed the tour gets the nod.